Qantas to trial new overhead bins

[Philip Argy]

This is a most interesting development:

http://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-trial...-overhead-bins

I wonder what adjustment will be made to loading sheets to take account of the larger bins - will carry on now be weighed, for example?

[Stephen Brown]

All that will happen is people will take larger bags or more of them. As soon as people know there's more space they will take advantage of it. That's whats happening at the moment.

On a personal note the thing that really ****s me about these roller bags are the people that bring them on the plane, then find they are so heavy they can't lift them into the overhead bins. If you can't lift it, don't bring it. I'm just waiting for the lawsuits directed at the airlines to start from people with bad backs from lifting the bags to the overhead. It's bound to happen.

[Sarah C]

Originally Posted by Stephen Brown

All that will happen is people will take larger bags or more of them. As soon as people know there's more space they will take advantage of it. That's whats happening at the moment.

Bingo. It is just shifting the goal posts, the same problem will exist no matter how much space there is.

All airlines should just bite the bullet and enforce the limits more.

[Adrian B]

Dumb question, does it take longer to disembark all pax on a 737, or unload the cargo hold? I am just thinking that this may improve turnaround times if you have less hold based luggage to off load. Obviously depends on pax behavior and courtesy, something that seems to lack these days. Apparently its a race to get from the back row to the front before the door opens.........

Just a thought...

[Rowan McKeever]

I can't speak generally Adrian as I don't fly all that often, but in my experience there's been a number of times I've sat in a window seat waiting for a gap (not in a hurry those times) and the holds have been completely emptied while I've been watching out the window.

My comment would be that it makes a very noticeable difference with those airlines that DO use both forward and aft doors for boarding / deboarding compared to the one that doesn't... but then you get those people in row 25 who couldn't possibly bring themselves to NOT board through the airbridge!

[Thomas Collins]

All that will happen is people will take larger bags or more of them. As soon as people know there's more space they will take advantage of it. That's whats happening at the moment.

I disagree. It is about ground staff and crew policing company policy at the gate before the customer boards the aircraft, and again on-board should someone "slip through".

[Lawrie L]

Also flight attendants are not allowed to help pax to lift the heavy suitcase up to the overhead bin due to OHS reasons and worker compensations!... so pax have to carry it up by themselves.

[Raymond Rowe]

Maybe if the baggage guys did not take so long to unload then people would put bvags in the hold.I have waited up to 45 mins for bags.Never again.

[Nigel C]

The baggage guys must work safely. Quickly, sure, but safety must be the priority.
Perhaps there were unforseen circumstances that led to delays in the bags coming through? With your years on the tarmac Ray I'm sure you've seen plenty of delays for a plethora of reasons.

[Ray P.]

Personally, I can never work out why baggage handlers moving a bag between the baggage cart and the belt loader or vise-versa (usually a distance of around 2') feel compelled to literally 'throw' the bag.

Honestly, I have flown hundreds of times and I have never, ever seen a baggage handler 'place' a bag on anything. It's no wonder people have large carry-on bags.